Six keys to a successful interview
Making a good impression
Responding to questions
After the interview
Sample questions (to and from the employer)
Job Offers (evaluating, negotiating, accepting)

The purpose of a job interview is to allow both you AND the organization an opportunity to determine if the specific position for which you have applied is a good match for your interests and abilities.

The interview should enable the employer to learn about your abilities, talents, personality, interests, work experience, education, and motivation.

The interview should enable you to learn about the employer's needs, organizational structure, work environment, business activities, communication style, and plans for the future.

Six keys to a successful interview

1. Know yourself including your strengths and weaknesses.
2. Research the organization to which you are applying.
3. Prepare for the interview and make a good first impression.
4. Respond enthusiastically to questions. Communicate your strengths.
5. Ask questions about the employer and position.
6. Follow-up after the interview.

The critical link to job hunt success: Know Yourself

Prior to the interview, research the employer.
As you prepare for the interview, define your:
Interests	Abilities
Education	Experience
Values	Strengths and weaknesses
Short and long term goals
At the interview you must communicate these points to the employer.

Making a good impression

Know in advance directions to the interview site.
Arrive 10-15 minutes early.
Offer a firm handshake. Thank the employer for his/her time.
Be aware of your nonverbal messages.
Be seated after the interviewer invites you to sit down.
Know the dress code typical in your field and try to find out ahead of time what employees wear where you are interviewing. You should wear clothing which is slightly dressier than what is typically worn.
It is acceptable to carry a leather notepad holder to make short notes to yourself or to remind you of questions you want answered.

Responding to questions

The interviewer wants to:
Know that you can do the work required
See your enthusiasm toward the position
Believe that you are a team player
Observe you modeling professional behavior
Determine if you are an effective problem solver
See how you react under pressure/stress

Prepare for an interviewer's questions by:
Researching the company and preparing questions about the position, company and/or the environment in which you will be working (see last page of this handout)
Writing out and practicing delivery of answers to commonly asked questions (see last page of this handout)
Including examples and stories in questions responses to illustrate your skills and abilities
Making a list of skills/experiences/specific examples that you want to share during the interview and linking them to interview questions
Doing a mock interview in the Office of Career Services

To answer the interviewer's questions:
Ask for question clarification or for narrower question parameters
Avoid using "ums," "ahhs," and "you knows" in responses
Develop answers which respond to the question's intended meaning
Identify the meaning of the potential employer's question

After the interview

At the conclusion of the interview, be sure to:
Thank the interviewer
Find out the next step of the hiring process
Write a thank you note to the interviewers

Sample Questions

From the employer

Problem Solving
How do you deal with conflict?
Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor?
How did you resolve it?
What major problem have you had to deal with recently?
What has been the most difficult decision that you've had to make?
Do you handle pressure well?
How do you deal with ambiguity?
How do you prioritize your time and activities?

Knowledge of organization and position
What attracted you to our position?
Why are you qualified for this position?
What are some of your long range & short range goals and objectives, and how have you prepared yourself to achieve them?
What do you hope to accomplish personally and professionally in this position?
Why do you want to work in this industry?
What do you know about our company?
Why are you interested in our company?

Work Environment
Describe your ideal job. What is your management style?
What do you expect from a supervisor? Describe a time that you worked as part of a team.
What 2-3 things are most important to you in a job? Why?
Would your rather work with information or with people?
What motivates you?
What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
How familiar are you with the community where we're located?
Are you willing to travel? How much?
How much money do you need to make to be happy?

Personal Assessment
Define success. What is one of your proudest achievements or accomplishments?
What do you think it takes to be successful in this career?
What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life?
What are four things I will remember about you after this interview?
Why should we hire you? Tell me about yourself.
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
If I were to ask one of your professors to describe you, what would he or she say?

To the employer
Please describe the duties of the job for me. What kinds of assignments might I expect the first 6 months on the job?
Do you have plans for expansion?
In what ways is a career with your company better than one with your competitors?
What do you like best about your job/company?
What qualities are you looking for in the candidate who fills this position?
Where does this position fit into the organizational structure?
What is the largest single problem facing your staff /department now?
Does your company encourage further education?
What are your growth projections for next year?

Job Offers

Evaluation of work and life values
In order to determine if this is the right job for you, assess the job as it relates to your work and life values, which can include:

company ethics	salary
advancement opportunities	climate
appeal of town or city	creativity
helping others	travel
flexible work hours	job security
health/exercise	learning potential
team work	company prestige
job stress	adventure/excitement
cultural activities

Take the time to list and rank the work and life values that are most important to you. Analyze the position(s) that you have been offered to determine if your needs will be met. Of course having multiple offers makes this process a little easier; most people are not as likely to turn down their only offer. But if a job offer does not appear to coincide with your most important values, you may want to consider looking for something else.  See Towers Perrin for more information on evaluating an offer.

Negotiating an offer
The key to negotiating over an offer is
1) to do your research,
2) to be prepared to state sound reasons for the negotiation, and
3) to communicate with professionalism and tact.

Identify the primary issues that you want to negotiate. This might include having more time to make a decision, the salary, a sign-on bonus, relocation reimbursement, or the start date. Often salary is not negotiable, so be prepared to negotiate non-salary items (sign-on bonus, relocation expenses) if your request for a higher salary is denied.

Remember:
1) Enter into negotiation only if you plan on accepting the offer if your request is approved.
2) Be prepared to listen to the company's position.
3) Realize that the employer has every right to rescind the offer. Don’t feel like you have to negotiate; if you are happy with the offer, accept it!

After you accept an offer...
You must contact the Office of Career Services as soon as possible to remove yourself from any future interview lists. If you fail to do this, you will be limiting opportunities for other students who may be interested in the position. Continuing to interview after accepting an offer is unethical.

Once you have accepted an offer you must honor that commitment. Reneging on an offer is unethical and will not be tolerated by the Office of Career Services. Reneging on an offer damages the Davidson reputation and hurts the chances for future students who may be interested in that company.

Resume Writing

Cover Letters

Transcripts

Researching the Employer

International Employment

Networking & Job Fairs

Interviewing & Job Offers

On-Campus Recruiting

Related Resources

Career Services Home